FG directs NAHCON to reduce N8.5m Hajj fare

 President Bola Tinubu has directed the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria to immediately review and reduce the 2026 Hajj fares recently announced by the commission.

The Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Senator Ibrahim Hadeija, disclosed this to State House Correspondents on Monday after a meeting with NAHCON officials at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

2025 

According to him, the President and Vice President Kashim Shettima considered the fares, pegged at over N8.5m, too high in light of the recent appreciation of the naira and ongoing economic reforms.

“This meeting was called at the instance of the Vice President to look at the possibility of reducing the Hajj fare for the 2026 pilgrimage,” Hadeija said.“The announced fares were based on a pessimistic exchange rate of N1,550 to the dollar. But with the naira appreciating steadily, the President feels the benefits should be passed to the pilgrims.”

He added that NAHCON had been directed to rework the fares using a more realistic exchange rate, which could bring the cost down to between N7.6 m and N7.7m per pilgrim.

“If this adjustment is applied, pilgrims will enjoy a significant reduction in the Hajj fare.

The final figure will be announced within the next two days,” he said.

Hadeija, however, urged the State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards to ensure quick remittance of payments to NAHCON to enable early foreign exchange processing through the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Earlier, NAHCON had announced the following 2026 Hajj fares after consultations with stakeholders: Maiduguri-Yola Zone (Yobe, Borno, Adamawa, Taraba) – N8,318,336.67; Northern States – N8,244,813.67; and Southern States – N8,561,013.67.

Reacting to the presidential directive, the Chairman of the Kebbi State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Faruk Yaro, expressed appreciation to Tinubu and Shettima for their intervention, describing it as “a huge relief” for intending pilgrims.

“We are very happy because the President and Vice President have intervened to bring down the cost of Hajj fare. This will make the exercise more affordable,” Yaro said.

Also speaking, the Secretary of NAHCON, Dr. Mustapha Mohammad, welcomed the move, saying it would enable more Nigerian Muslims to fulfill one of Islam’s key obligations.

“The lower the Hajj fare, the more Muslims will have the opportunity to perform the pilgrimage. As directed by the Vice President, we will work tirelessly to reduce the fare to an affordable rate,” Mohammad said.